After receiving a time violation warning at 30-all in the first game of set two, Verdasco briefly turned up the heat with successive aces - raising the question of why he had not served more powerfully up to that point.

A superb cross-court pass on the run helped Murray break at the next time of asking, though, and there was to be no way back for the Spaniard.

Murray's maiden Dubai title strengthens his position at the top of the ATP rankings, particularly with nearest rival Novak Djokovic defending a huge amount of points in the coming weeks.